St. Jude’s Ranch for Children kicked off the initial stages of its Healing Center construction project to provide safe therapeutic homes for child victims of sex trafficking.

The project kick-off event concluded with drilling borings for geotechnical soil surveys, which were donated by Universal Engineering Sciences and Terra Contracting for $1 in honor of the project’s mission.

“We are honored to support the expansion of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, an organization that is close to our hearts,” said James Bristow, Managing Partner of Universal Engineering Sciences, formerly known as NOVA Geotechnical & Inspection Services. “Alongside Terra Contracting, we are donating our geotechnical inspection and drilling services for the new Healing Center, and our team members regularly volunteer and make donations through the Red Heart Giving Society throughout the year.”

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children’s Healing Center master plan design and construction costs are estimated at $15 million. The charity has received a $4 million matching grant from the Engelstad Foundation, a $3 million grant from Clark County, and individual donor gifts. With more than half of the funds raised, the charity is continuing to pursue all avenues for funding and is encouraging the rest of the community to donate and help this young, enslaved victim population.